AC/DC has overcome a great deal of adversity on their way to becoming Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and one of the greatest bands ever. Following the death of lead singer Bon Scott, AC/DC could have crumbled, but instead, they survived it. Not only did they survive, but they thrived and went on to create some of their most memorable work. Unfortunately, the band has not been able to escape their fair share of turmoil, including a conspiracy that has haunted them for over 45 years.

While creating their biggest album ever should have been enough to silence any doubt, it wasn't. There are a lot of people who took exception to their Back In Black album, and have not allowed the band to forget it. The noise has gotten so loud at times it has caused current lead singer, Brian Johnson, to bring it up again in his book, The Lives of Brian. When asked by The Daily Telegraph about this, Johnson vehemently denied the conspiracy theory, saying, "I mean, it’s just absolute nonsense."

Who Really Wrote Back In Black? AC/DC Conspiracy Theory Explained

The Timeline Of Events Leaves Lingering Questions

For the love of AC/DC, can everyone get along? Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case since Brian Johnson replaced Bon Scott. While the prevailing sentiment has been excitement that the band has continued on for this long, it hasn't stopped the ongoing debate as to who is better, Johnson or Scott. To make matters worse for Johnson, his career has been overshadowed at times by the Back In Black conspiracy theory. This theory claims that a lot of the hits from the 1980 Back In Black album were written by Bon Scott prior to his death.

The story goes that a lot of the lyrics that are heard on Back In Black were written by Scott in a notebook and were used by the band. Believers of this theory point to the timeline as evidence that it is true. Scott died five months before the record's release, and Johnson had only been in the band for three months before it came out. This means that one of the top three best-selling records of all-time, with over 50 million sales, was crafted in just a couple of months. Part of that story has led people to commend the band for such an accomplishment, while others simply don't consider it possible.

How Brian Johnson Responded To The Conspiracy Theory

AC/DC Wants Credit Where Credit Is Due

The band has attempted to debunk the theory over the years. The co-founder of AC/DC, Angus Young, has stated that the band never aimed to profit from Bon Scott's death; therefore, they never utilized any lyrics that were left behind. The only thing the band took from Scott was some inspirational stories about a landlord who disliked his loud music.

The band never aimed to profit from Bon Scott's death, and therefore they never utilized any lyrics that were left behind.

As Brian Johnson promoted his book while speaking to The Daily Telegraph, he elaborated further, saying, "What band would let somebody else claim somebody else’s lyrics? I mean, it’s just absolute nonsense." When placed in this context, Johnson makes the point of all points: After AC/DC created masterpieces with Scott, such as the Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, and Highway to Hell albums, there is no reason the band wouldn't want to credit and honor their friend if there were cause to do so. At the time, Johnson was brand new to the band, and it wouldn't have made much difference to the fans.

Of course, people will believe what they choose, but Brian Johnson hopes that he has put an end to the Back In Black conspiracy theory once and for all by stating, "Those lyrics came from the end of my hand with a pen in it." In the interview, Johnson praised Bon Scott as a lyricist, saying he was a fan of his "double entendres" and "funny little quips." Indeed, only Bon Scott could write a song like "Big Balls," and his genius deserves the credit. However, so does the genius of Brian Johnson. He stepped into a role where he had massive shoes to fill, and he did it. Regardless of which singer is favored over the other, it's because of both that fans have experienced AC/DC for decades. Both of their voices are unforgettable, and it's time to thank them both for all they have done.